Who painted Two Male Nudes?

Two Male Nudes was painted by Baccio Bandinelli in 1520.

Where can I see Two Male Nudes?

Two Male Nudes is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two Male Nudes?

Two Male Nudes is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Two Male Nudes

Baccio Bandinelli , 1520

Two Male Nudes is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Baccio Bandinelli. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1520 by the Florentine artist Baccio Bandinelli, this drawing presents two nude male figures rendered in pen and brown ink on laid paper. Executed during the High Renaissance, the work reflects the period’s interest in anatomical precision and the study of the human form. It is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features two men standing side by side, their bodies fully exposed and posed in a manner that suggests movement and tension. The figures are rendered with careful attention to musculature and posture, highlighting the artist’s engagement with classical ideals of the human body and the study of physical dynamics.

Technique & Style

Bandinelli employed a network of cross‑hatching and layered lines to model volume and suggest shadow, creating a sense of three‑dimensionality on the flat surface of the paper. The brown ink, applied with a pen, yields a sketchy yet controlled quality, while the laid paper’s warm tone contributes to the drawing’s overall tonal balance.

History & Provenance

The drawing was produced while Bandinelli was establishing his reputation across sculpture, drawing, and painting in Florence. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings in Washington, where it remains on display as an example of his early drawing practice and of High Renaissance anatomical studies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Baccio Bandinelli

Baccio Bandinelli (also called Bartolomeo Brandini; 12 November 1493 – shortly before 7 February 1560) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, draughtsman, and painter.